REDUNDANCY POLICY. This policy has been written in accordance with legislative requirements and ACAS guidance.

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1 REDUNDANCY POLICY 1) Introduction Chesterfield Borough Council is committed to ensuring that wherever possible, employees enjoy continuity of employment. However, the Council recognises that changes in business need and/or methods of working may sometimes render redundancies as unavoidable. The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that: As far as possible employees are retained in employment. All employees are treated fairly and consistently Redundancy and redeployment processes are managed sensitively Legislative requirements are met. This policy has been written in accordance with legislative requirements and ACAS guidance. 2) Scope This Policy applies to all employees of Chesterfield Borough Council. The Council accepts its responsibilities as a single Employer and acknowledges that the successful handling of redundancy and redeployment implicitly requires the active support, participation and co-operation of all parties including Head of Services, Heads of Service, Trade Unions and Employees. 3) Responsibility Head of Services have overall responsibility for ensuring the fair and consistent application of this Policy. 4) Redundancy The Council will take all reasonable steps to avoid the necessity for compulsory redundancies. However, realistically there can be no guarantee that the possibility of compulsory redundancies will never arise. The Statutory Definition is that employees are dismissed due to redundancy when: the employer has ceased, or intends to cease, to carry on the business for the purposes of which the employee was so employed; or the employer has ceased, or intends to cease, to carry on the business in the place where the employee was so employed; or the requirements of the business for employees to carry out work of a particular kind has ceased or diminished or are expected to cease or diminish; or

2 the requirements of the business for the employees to carry out work of a particular kind, in the place where they were so employed, has ceased or diminished or are expected to cease or diminish. The Council will manage redundancies in line with legal requirements and aims to minimise the adverse effect on both those employees who lose their jobs and on those remaining in employment. 5) Consultation Chesterfield Borough Council is committed to consulting with relevant recognised Trade Unions, employee representatives and individual employees as soon as practicable and keeping them informed as fully as possible. To ensure the validity of the consultative exercise, consultation will commence at the time when the possible declaring of redundancies becomes a proposal, not a final decision. Responsibility for consultation lies with the relevant Head of Service, supported by Heads of Service and Human Resource Officers as appropriate. The statutory minimum time-scales for consultation with the Trade Unions are: At least 30 days before the first dismissal takes effect if 20 to 99 employees are to be made redundant at one establishment over a period of 90 days or less. At least 90 days before the first dismissal takes effect if 100 or more employees are to be made redundant at one establishment over a period of 90 days or less. Where redundancies involve less than 20 employees, in accordance with good practice, the Council will apply the 30 days consultation period as a minimum. Proposed redundancies of 20 or more employees at one establishment in a 90 day period must be notified to the Department for Trade & Industry on Form HR1. A copy of the Form HR1 should also be given to the Trade Unions as part of the consultation documentation. 5.1) Statutory requirements for the provision of information In proposing redundancies the Council has a statutory duty under Section 188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 to provide the following information to recognised Trade Unions, in writing: The reasons for the proposed redundancies The number and category of employees whom it is proposed to dismiss as redundant. The total number of employees of that category employed at that establishment The proposed method of selection for redundancy The proposed methods of effecting the dismissals with due regard to the redundancy procedure and including the time-scale over which dismissals will take place. (A Redundancy Timetable Framework is attached at Appendix 1)

3 The method of calculation of the amount of any redundancy payment. 5.2) Measures to avoid/minimise redundancy To be meaningful, consultation is not just the provision of information but involves inviting comments, views and discussion on ways of: Avoiding dismissals Reducing the numbers of employees to be dismissed; and Mitigating the consequences of the dismissals Consultation must be undertaken with a view to reaching agreement with employee representatives and any counter-proposals should be considered and formally responded to, giving reasons if they are to be rejected. Every effort should be made to reduce the number of redundancies through the following measures: natural wastage - wherever, and as soon as possible recruitment to areas at risk should cease, taking into account the need to maintain services; temporary employment - recruitment to any potentially suitable vacancy will be under a temporary contract of employment; overtime - to be reduced wherever service requirements permit, in favour of employment opportunity; Redeployment opportunities should be sought, which may include provision of training/retraining and the introduction of ring-fencing where appropriate. 6) Selection As initial steps to avoid or reduce compulsory redundancies and in full consultation with the Trade Unions, the Council will, with the exception of those positions that cannot be covered by other Council employees, terminate the contracts of Agency workers, Consultants, and Temporary employees where: 1. the position may provide a suitable redeployment opportunity for the employees at risk, and/or 2. the termination of these contracts provide financial savings to the Council. Requests for voluntary redundancy/early retirement will be considered where volunteers are from the categories of employees affected by the redundancy proposals.

4 All such requests will be considered against the selection criteria set out below. Acceptance of any application will be at the discretion of the relevant Head of Service in consultation with the Human Resources Manager. Where, following efforts to minimise or avoid compulsory redundancies, the need for redundancy remains and there is a choice between potential redundant employees to be made, an objective selection process will be applied. Where a single individual or a whole work group is affected by redundancy, a selection process will not be necessary. The following selection criteria should be used, in the order set out: 1) Needs of the service - the Council must maintain a balanced workforce able to meet service and client needs. Any workforce reductions shall reflect envisaged service delivery requirements. 2) Specific Skills, Qualifications or experience - relevant to the needs of the service. 3) Additional skills and experience - to be considered as evidence of flexibility which may constitute a relevant service need. 4) Attendance, discipline and performance records - only where proper records and an appropriate criteria framework against which records may be assessed are available. 5) Length of continuous local Government service. (A Selection Criteria Assessment Form is attached at Appendix 2) The purpose of selection criteria is to ensure that employees are fairly selected for redundancy. The process should be consistent, objective and care should be taken to ensure that it is not directly or indirectly discriminatory on the grounds of race, gender, age or disability. The most important consideration for the future success of the Council is to maintain a balanced workforce after the redundancies have been carried out. Specific skills, flexibility, adaptability and approach to work are likely to be the most relevant considerations. In assessing employees against the selection criteria it is essential that reliable information is available. In this respect the use of skills audit questionnaires may be appropriate in ensuring that information is up to date. Where work performance is used as a criterion there must be objective assessment against a clearly defined performance framework to ensure objectivity. In using attendance or disciplinary records it is essential that the information is accurate and that the reasons and extent of any absences are documented. Advice must be taken in cases where the Disability Discrimination Act may apply.

5 7) Appeal against Selection An appeal against the Head of Service s decision to select for redundancy must be made in writing to the Chief Executive setting out the grounds of the appeal, within ten working days of the decision. The appeal will be called as soon as reasonably practicable and by mutual agreement and the employee notified of the place, date and time of the Appeal Hearing, in writing. The appeal will be heard by Members of the Appeals & Regulatory Committee and the employee will be entitled to attend the Hearing with their Trade Union representative or colleague. The Appeals & Regulatory Committee may uphold the appeal, or confirm the original decision and will inform the employee in writing of its decision as soon as is practicable. The decision of the Appeals and Licensing Committee will be final 8) Notice Period Where redundancy is confirmed, an employee will be given written contractual notice of dismissal based upon their length of service with Chesterfield Borough Council. 9) Alternative Employment The Council has a statutory obligation to seek to identify suitable alternative employment where redundancy is confirmed. This will be undertaken on a Councilwide basis. The opportunity to offer redeployment will depend upon the availability of suitable vacant posts, budgets, time-scales and the transferability of employees skills. Any offer of alternative employment made will be subject to a four-week trial period. The provisions of the Council s Redeployment Procedure will apply in such circumstances together with additional support and assistance as appropriate including: Assistance with job searches Assistance with and training in completing job applications Assistance with interview and presentation skills and techniques Referral to Occupational Health for counselling, where appropriate Employees under notice of redundancy will have a statutory entitlement to a reasonable amount of paid time off to look for another job, or to arrange training.

6 Appendix 1 Redundancy Timetable Framework Procedure Trade Union provided with statutory information DTI notified on Form HR1, if appropriate. Head of Service/nominee consults with Trade Unions with a view to reaching agreement as to the potential need for compulsory redundancies, provide statutory information and proposes selection method, if necessary, in accordance with the Council s Selection criteria. Head of Service/nominee considers any responses received from the Trade Unions as a result of consultation. If selection of individuals is necessary Skills audit and Individual selection criteria forms completed, and Head of Service/nominee identifies individuals affected by applying selection criteria. As soon as reasonably practicable, the Head of Service/nominee notifies those individuals, in writing, that they have been provisionally identified as selected for redundancy, copied to the relevant Trade Unions. This notification will also confirm the right of the individual(s) to make oral/written representation to the Head of Service as to why they should not be selected for redundancy. The Head of Service considers any oral/written representation and confirms decision in writing to the individual(s) and relevant Trade Unions. If the decision is to confirm the redundancy, dismissal notification is sent to the employee and Trade Union giving notice in accordance with their contractual notice period and advising of the right of appeal. Consultations continue with Trade Unions on ways to avoid/reduce dismissals or mitigate consequences of dismissal. Head of Service/nominee commences and continues to search for redeployment opportunities in accordance with the Redeployment Procedure until end of notice period. Week

7 Appeal An appeal against the decision of the Head of Service must be made in writing to the Chief Executive, within 10 working days of the decision. The Appeal Hearing to be held as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter and by mutual agreement. The employee will be informed of the place, date and time of the Appeal Hearing in writing. Appeal heard by Members of the Appeals & Regulatory Committee. If appeal is not upheld, the Head of Service/nominee writes to the employee confirming date of dismissal. Dismissal effected

8 Selection Criteria Assessment Form Appendix 2 Name Head of Serviceate/Section Current Post Title Current Grade Start Date of Continuous Local Government Service Skills Weighting Score

9 Qualifications Weighting Score Experience Weighting Score Additional Skills/Qualifications and Experience Weighting Score Attendance Weighting Score

10 Disciplinary Record Weighting Score Performance Weighting Score Selection Criteria Assessment Form Guidance Notes The proposed selection criteria and weightings will be the subject of consultations with the Trade Unions. The criteria and their relative weightings will be determined by the current and future needs of the business. Weightings will take into account the Council s service delivery requirements and need to maintain a balanced workforce. To achieve a total score for each employee, criteria should be weighted by a factor to reflect its relative importance. Assessments must be objective and supported by documented and verifiable evidence wherever possible. Managers should not allow pre-conceived opinions to influence the assessment process. Detailed notes should be kept at all stages of the assessment process in order that they can be referred to in any Appeal